Warning: Spoilers ahead for My Adventures With Superman Season 2, Episode 6, “The Machine Who Would Be Empire.”
The latest installment of My Adventures With Superman features the fastest-paced episode of the entire series so far. Kara Zor-El (Kiana Madeira) kidnaps her cousin Superman (Jack Quaid) and takes him into space to try to convert him to her side. However, Kara quickly learns her memories are betraying her, and her history is shrouded in mystery.
Brainiac (Michael Emerson) makes his official debut, introducing himself to Superman with an all-new backstory for the character. While his origin has been changed, Brainiac is as menacing as ever. Clark is lightyears from Earth with his cousin and a daunting new foe holding him captive, and the stakes are higher than ever before. Check out all the details in our recap of My Adventures With Superman Season 2, Episode 6, “The Machine Who Would Be Empire” below.
Kara Takes Clark to Space in ‘My Adventures With Superman’ Season 2 Episode 6
While Clark is upset about being kidnapped, he accepts Kara’s plea to let her teach him about the Kryptonian Empire. She shows him projections of their home before it was destroyed but admits she has never experienced the planet for herself. While typically in her story Kara departs Krypton in her early teens, in My Adventures With Superman Season 2 Episode 6, it’s revealed she left as a baby.
Without any of her own memories of her home planet, she relies solely on what she has been told by the being she calls her father, Brainiac. The two cousins begin to bond despite all their differences, and Clark finds out that Kara has met and has a crush on his best friend, Jimmy Olsen (Ishmel Sahid). Clark is able to convince Kara to prove to him the Kryptonian Empire is benevolent, and to take her to visit any of the worlds under their domain.
However, when they travel to the planet Thanagar, they find it completely destroyed, with no life remaining. Kara begins to question what she has been told, but before she can come to her senses, they are summoned by Brainiac and return to his ship. Clark is then imprisoned in a brain scan, while Kara is sent for further reconditioning.
Brainiac Reveals His Master Plan As Kara’s Traumatic History Is Uncovered
Brainiac is determined to test Clark’s limits within the brain scan, forcing him to fight simulations of some of the strongest warriors throughout the galaxy. While Superman has no intention of playing along with Brainiac’s games, the bombardment of attacks forces him to unleash his true power. His new powerset that includes electricity and bright light cascading from his body is unique to the series, and finally begins to come to the forefront in My Adventures With Superman Season 2 Episode 6.
Superman’s powers get stronger when he fights for those he cares about, receiving a glow similar to Super Saiyans from Dragon Ball Z. Although the extent of his powers is still unknown, these unique skills are what has Brainiac interested in Superman.
At this point, all seems lost for Clark, but as he’s being tested, Kara escapes to find out the truth about Brainiac’s Empire. Every planet she had been told was thriving under their rule has been completely wiped out and reduced to rubble.
Although Clark has more stacked against him than ever before, he may finally have the help of his cousin Kara fighting by his side. On her way back to the ship, devasted by what she has seen, she encounters a spaceship with none other than Jimmy Olsen and Lois Lane (Alice Lee). It’s unclear how they got there, as this episode barely featured any Lois and completely omitted the classic Jimmy side plot. However, their adventure will likely be revealed in the next episode.
“The Machine Who Would Be Empire” Teases the Most Devastating Villain Yet
While Kara has been united with Jimmy and Lois in space, Superman is still alone and under the thumb of Brainiac. The all-intelligent being is determined to make Superman his ultimate weapon and has the means to make it happen, as is evident by what he did to Kara.
Throughout his monologue, Brainiac reveals he is not only to blame for all the destruction to Thanagar and the other planets in his “Empire” but is likely the cause of the Kryptonian downfall as well. Brainiac was the artificial intelligence that ran all of Krypton’s technology until he decided to reinvent their empire in his own image.
It’ll take all of Kara, Jimmy, Lois and anyone else they can muster to save the day because Clark is facing his toughest threat yet in My Adventures With Superman Season 2 Episode 6 and beyond.
While the episode barely featured any characters outside of Clark, Kara or Brainiac, the fast-paced, action-packed thrill ride that My Adventures With Superman delivers every week ensures it remains one of the best shows on television.
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'My Adventures With Superman' Season 2, Episode 6 "The Machine That Would Be Empire" Review
'My Adventures With Superman' Season 2, Episode 6 "The Machine That Would Be Empire" ReviewThe Good
- Terrifying origins behind Kara and Brainiac's lives are revealed.
- The changes to Krypton's history fit perfectly with the story they are telling.
- Superman's new powers are an exciting addition to the character.
- Kara is one of the best written characters this show has produced, both tragic and charismatic.
- Brainiac is the scariest villain the series has introduced yet.
The Bad
- The lack of Jimmy and Lois subtracted a key element of what makes this show so special.
